Michael Ealy Checks Karl Urban In This New Clip From Tonight’s Almost Human

Last night Fox debuted Almost Human, their latest sci-fi police procedural, and it was a damn good time. Keen-eyed genre fans will notice tons of references to other movies and shows, the two leads have a great chemistry together, and there is a ton of potential for this show to become something totally awesome. The two-night premiere continues this evening, and here is a clip from the second episode.

Clocking in at a slim 42 seconds, this video gives you a good idea of some of the show’s high points. You get to witness the back and forth banter between detective John Kennex (Karl Urban) and his robotic partner Dorian (Michael Ealy). He may be mechanical, but his style of droid was made to be as human as possible. In fact, their capacity for emotional responses has lead to them being mothballed or shipped off of the planet to work in space because people don’t like being around them. They’re too human.

The DRN class is widely known as the “crazy” ones. Their true-to-life nature leads to some exchanges that feel very authentic, like Dorian cock-blocking his partner with detective Valerie Stahl (Minka Kelly). This romantic interest is another element that looks to be introduced more thoroughly as the show progresses. It’s hinted at in the pilot, but should provide ample opportunities for Dorian to shut his partner down as we really get into Almost Human.

While show co-creator J.J. Abrams acknowledges the show’s influences, he doesn’t want to recreate the past, and wants to do something new. He tells USA Today, “We are certainly not the first show that has done cops in the future or the only show that’s done cops as synthetic beings…But every series I’ve done, I’ve had people say, ‘Oh it’s that show but like this …’ In success, you become the benchmark for that next show that is in that genre.”

Abrams and his partner J.H. Wyman (Fringe) want to establish a template for a new breed of genre mash up. He says, “There’s definitely a mythology, but it’s a cop show…If they’re not solving cases every week, what are they doing?”

This statement gives you a good idea of how Almost Human may proceed in the future. They’re going to build this world, something both Abrams and Wyman are good at, complete with its own life and details, but at the same time all of that is going on, you’re going to get a kick ass cop show as well. There was no shortage of action in the pilot, and the previews we’ve seen indicate that they’re not going to skimp on that side of the equation.

Did you watch the first episode of Almost Human? Are you ready to climb aboard this train, or are you letting it pull out of the station without you? Click HERE for to chime in on our spoilerific discussion.